Manchester Pride will return to the city centre this August bank holiday with a variety of free events and a music festival featuring the likes of Pabblo Vittar, BIMINI, Lisa Scott-Lee and Cheddar Gorgeous.
Taking place from August 25-28, organisers behind this year’s event have promised its ‘most inclusive roster of local and international queer talent to date’. 96% of this year’s performers identify as queer, whilst people of colour represent 51% of the line-up and 42% are from trans and non-binary communities.
Headliners at this year's event are Brazilian drag superstar Pabblo Vittar, Scissor Sisters’ frontman Jake Shears and Danny Beard, the current reigning champion of RuPaul’s Drag Race UK.
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As per last year’s event, the ticketed Gay Village Party will take place at Sackville Gardens and will feature all the headline artists as well as pop stars, drag performers and DJs.
The festival will kick off with the trans led and curated event Trans Filth & Joy, hosted by Milk Presents and Trans Creative, headlined by BIMINI, who is best known for competing on the second series of RuPaul’s Drag Race UK. They’ll be joined by the likes of Tito Bone, Midgitte Bardot and The BollyWitch.
There will also be the inaugural Queer Asian Takeover, which will celebrate queer brown joy with Lucky Roy Singh, DJ Gok Wan, The Bitten Peach, Bollyqueer and House of Spice.
Outside of the Gay Village Party, there will also be free events including the annual parade through the city centre, Superbia, Youth Pride MCR, Family Pride MCR and the Human Rights Forum.
The four-day festival will conclude with the candlelight vigil at Sackville Gardens with George House Trust to honour those who have been lost to; and to stand in solidarity with those who are living with HIV.
We’re rounded out the day-by-day line-up of artists and events for Manchester Pride 2023 below.
Friday, August 25
The Village Stage
Trans Filth & Joy, BIMINI, Tito Bone, Midgitte Bardot, Cyro, The BollyWitch, An0maly, Finley Odin, Darnell, Denon, Xzan and DJ Jess Rose.
The MancUnity Stage, in partnership with Gaydio
Fat Pride featuring The Niallist, Ivy Profemme, The Fat Britney, Joe Spencer, Miss Lei-Lei, Sam Buttery, and Joanna Cuddle.
The Alan Turing Stage - hosted by Donna Trump
La Discothèque Orchestra, Queeriosity Cabaret, Pecs Drag Kings, The Enby Show featuring Cyro, Flick, and Carrot.
Saturday, August 26
The Village Stage
Pabllo Vittar, TBC*, Jodie Harsh, Black Peppa, Monopoly Phonic, Tom Aspaul, Violet Blonde, and Jsky.
* A multi-platinum selling headliner is to be announced soon.
The MancUnity Stage, in partnership with Gaydio
Black Pride MCR from Darren Pritchard with Raven Mandella, Swagga, Kele Le Roc, DJ Stacy Bee, DJ NKay, DJ KL, Queens in Kicks, Goodie Magnum, and Dymond.
The Alan Turing Stage
Queer Asian Takeover hosted by Lucky Roy Singh and featuring Gok Wan, Gracie T, Reeta Loi, The Bitten Peach, Bollyqueer, House of Spice, and Club Zindagi.
Sunday, August 27
The Village Stage
Danny Beard and Friends, Jake Shears, Natasha Bedingfield, Lisa Scott-Lee, Cheddar Gorgeous, Barb, Kelly Llorenna (N-Trance), Jonbers Blonde, Bailey J Mills, Lady Bushra, Banksie, The BollyWitch, Lill, and Ginny Lemon’s Dog Show.
The MancUnity Stage, in partnership with Gaydio
The Queer Women’s Takeover with Monki, Kim Lana, Blasha and Allatt (Meat Free + Frixxxion), Mix-Stress and Friends, SWAGGA featuring DJ Stacy Bee, Queens in Kicks, Freequency3, Club Clam, What She Said, Vanilla, and Fat Camp.
The Alan Turing Stage
Cutie-POC Cabaret hosted by Rikki Beadle-Blair and featuring Angie Brown, The Cocoa-Butter Club, NoirTones, Ghetto Fabulous and Your Manchester with Belinda Scandal.
Monday, August 28
The Village Stage
Misty Chance and Friends, Disabled Queer Joy Cabaret
The MancUnity Stage, in partnership with Gaydio
THE RUNWAY by Banksie and Firehouse with Dakota Schiffer.
The Alan Turing Stage
Disney Classics performed by The Untold Orchestra
Tickets to Manchester Pride's Gay Village Party can be bought here.
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